Vegetable-cutter.



No. 676,066. Patented lune ll, l90l. E. LANE.

VEGETABLE CUTTER.

[Application filed Jan. 23, 1901) (No Model.)

avweufo'c ERS co Puovouma, wnmnmou. n c

UNITED STATES 'aTsNT @nnrcn.

EDWIN LANE, OF JOHNSTOlVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEGETABLE-CUTTER.

SPEGJIFIG ATTGN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 676,066, dated June 11, 1901.

Application filed January 23, 1901. Serial No. 44,448. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN LANE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Vegetable Cutters or Slicers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements invegetable cutters or slicers of that type wherein the cutter isreciprocated by hand and an automatic feed of the vegetable toward thecutter is provided; and the invention consists in the construction andcombination of the parts, there being present a spring-actuated followerwhich is normally moved toward a reciprocated slide having a knife, thefollower carrying a rack-bar which is engaged by a toothed segmenthaving an operating-handle by means of which the follower may beretracted or drawn out against the action of the spring, and when thehandle is held depressed the follower will be positioned away from thecutter, as will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 isa side elevation, the follower being shown partially retracted. Fig. 2is a plan view in which the follower is fully retracted. Figs. 3 and 4are perspective views showing opposite sides of the reciprocatingcutter, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing means forholding the handle depressed and the follower fully retracted.

This improvement is designed, primarily, for domestic use in cutting orslicing vegetables, as cabbages, potatoes, &c.

In the drawings, A refers to a board or platform,which is supported uponlegs a, attached to the under side, and to its uppermost side, near oneend, there are rigidly secured two vertical side pieces b b, the edgesof which are secured to a rectangular bottom piece Z), which is fasteneddirectly to the base. To the upper edges of the side arms there isattached a metal frame C, the side arms 0 0 thereof being wider than thethickness of the side pieces, and the end connecting-piece c is bent atright angles, as shown at 0 to overlap the reciprocating cutter. Theinwardlyextending portions of the metal frame will prevent an upwardmovement of the follower. To the upper face of the base, on a line withthe bent-over or depending portion 0 of the metal frame, is secured aguide-strip D, and between this strip and the frame operates thereciprocating cutter E, which cutter is provided with an inclined knifec, the same being retained over an opening through the slide. Beyond theend walls of the opening are set-screws c, which engage the knife andare used to adjust the same, which adjustment determines the thicknessof the slice. The slide or reciprocating cutter is provided adjacent toone end with a vertically-disposal handle E.

The follower is made up so as to provide a hollow frame which is movablebetween the fixed side pieces I) b, and the outerend of said follower islonger than the distance between the sides to provide a stop andconvenient means for attaching thereto pins, which pins are engaged byloops in the ends of springsff, the opposite ends of the springs beingsecured to pins which project from the side pieces I) of thevegetable-receiving box. The springs are partially covered by casings f,attached to the sides of the vegetable-box, and between said casingsthere is secured a horizontal handle B. To the end of the follower thereis secured a rack-bar G,which passes over supporting-pins h it, carriedby a frame II, attached to the base, so that the teeth of the rack-barwill be held in engagement with a toothed segment- I, pivotally attachedto the frame. The segment has formed thereon a handle K, and said handlemay be provided with an eye 7; or its equivalentgvhieh may be placed inengagement with a hook 7;, attached to the end of the follower, so thatwhen the follower is retracted to its full extent the handle can belocked to prevent movement thereof when placing vegetables in the boxbetween the cutter and the follower.

By providing the follower with a plurality of springs, preferably two oneach side, and a metal guide a direct movement of the follower isinsured, and incidentally the rackbar also serves as a guide, so thatthere is no liability of the parts locking, as they would be liable toshould the follower get out of alinenient. \Vhen the reciprocatingcutter is removed, access can be had to the box, so

that it may be readily cleansed. The general construction of the partsis such that there is no liability of the operator being cut by theknife, as the hand is not used to press the vegetables toward the knife.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In avegetable cutter or slicer, the combination with a box orvegetable-receptacle mounted on a base and provided with a metal framewhich overlaps the upper edges of the side pieces and the edge of areciprocating cutter, a guide-strip attached to the base, areciprocating cutter mounted between the frame and strip, a plurality ofsprings secured to the sides of the box, a follower to which theopposite ends of the springs are attached, and means for retracting thefollower against the action of the springs and retaining it in aretracted position, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of a base, a frame mounted thereon at one side of thecenter thereof and provided with guide pins, a toothed segment formedwith a hand-lever and mounted in said frame, a rack-bar en gaged by saidsegment and mounted in said guides, an open-ended vegetable-receptaclemounted on the other side of the center of the base, a manually-operatedcutter at one of the open ends of the receptacle, a follower actuated bythe rack-bar through the other open end of the receptacle, and springsacting to draw said follower toward the cutter; the handle adapted tocooperate by its weight with the springs when they are under the leasttension.

3. In a vegetable cutter or slicer, the combination with avegetable-receiving box having attached to the upper edge thereof ametal frame having side arms which project inwardly and a cross-piecewhich extends outwardly and is bent downward, a reciprocating cutteroperating over one end of the box and guided by the downwardly-bent edgeof the metal frame and a guide-strip, as D attached to the base, of aspring-actuated follower adapted to slide in the box, and means formoving the follower against the tension of the springs, and means forholding the follower retracted, substantially as shown and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDlVIN LANE.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES L. BERRY, CHARLES II. 'Wrrr.

